9 Best Adventurous Day Trips From Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City is a large metropolitan area nestled in the Salt Lake Valley of the Wasatch Mountains. Here are nine unique day trips from Salt Lake City worth taking to get outside and have an adventure. Whether you are just visiting and want to get out of the city or a local who wants a quick family adventure, these are all great options

Utah is a large state full of the most diverse areas to explore all around. It is a very outdoorsy place but with plenty of options for people that prefer to get away from nature. With so much to offer it can be hard to decide what to do. The good news is you don’t have to travel far to get to these awesome places.

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Park City, Utah

Park City is less than a 45 minute drive from Salt Lake City.

Staring with the closest day trip from Salt Lake City is the quaint mountain town of Park City. In the winter this place is a skiers paradise but Park city is worth a visit any time of year. From the quaint main street to trendy restaurants there is something for everyone. The ski resort offers winter sports like skiing and ice skating and in the summer months you can find hiking, mountain biking, rafting and so much more.

One season event in January is the Sundance Film Festival is held here which is wildly popular. There is hiking to be done in the nearby mountains or you can relax in the local cabins or hotels if you decide to stay overnight.

Bonneville Salt Flats

The Salt Flats are an hour and a half drive from Salt Lake City.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are just to the west of the Great Salt Lake and is the remains of a huge prehistoric lake that used to exist here. Now the ground is white and crusty and literally made of salt. It is such a unique landscape to visit that makes you feel like you are in an other worldly place. Nearby is the famous Bonneville Speedway where many land speed records have been broken.

It is especially fun to visit for pictures after it rains because of the reflection effect that occurs across the ground.

5th Water Hot Springs

5th Water Hot Springs trailhead is an hour and a half drive from Salt Lake City.

Located in Spanish Fork, Utah at the end of a 2.5 mile hike are a series of hot springs. There are several pools that vary in temperature and they are right next to a river. It is such a beautiful area and there is nothing better than soaking in hot springs after a hike, especially in the winter.

The trail is rated moderate however it really is not difficult. I’ve done it once during the day and once at night. We had no issues at night and during the day there were several families with young kids enjoying the waterfall that feeds the river. To get here you simply have to take a small drive up American Fork Canyon to the trailhead.

Nearby: 11 Best Restaurants in Provo and Orem to Try Today

Other Hot Springs in Utah:

Crystal Hot Springs
Saratoga Hot Springs
Meadow Hot Springs

Mt. Timpanogos

The Timpooneke Trailhead is one hour from Salt Lake City.

Mount Timpanogos is the second tallest mountain in Utah’s Wasatch Mountain Range and is very recognizable. Despite being ranked a difficult hike it is a very popular and busy trail. It is a 15 mile hike that starts shaded then moves to a beautiful open valley that is covered in wildflowers in the spring and summer.

From here you continue to hike till the saddle where the trail switches to loose rock and earns its difficult ranking. If you decide to stop at the saddle you still get a great view of the valley but you will miss the summit and likely seeing the mountain goats.

This hike will take several hours (up to 9-11 hours) but is worth it. Just remember to bring lots of water and sunscreen as much of the trail is unshaded.

Little Sahara Sand Dunes

Little Sahara Recreational Area is an hour and forty-five minute drive from Salt Lake City.

Little Sahara Recreational Area in Utah. Large expanse of sand dunes with patches of snow. An orange and yellow sunset off the horizon. With a dark blue sky beginning to turn to dusk. Little Sahara sand dunes are a great day trip from Salt Lake City full of adventure. — Little Sahara in January.

Showing off Utah’s true dessert status in Little Sahara Recreation Area you can find a large field of sand dunes just south of Salt Lake City. In this unique place there are a wide variety of activities available such as sand surfing, camping and horseback riding. However the most popular activity is ATV Riding. There are companies that offer rentals and several miles of trails and terrain to ride on.

Antelope Island State Park

Antelope Island is a two hour drive from Salt Lake City.

Antelope Island sits in the Great Salt Lake offering the best views of the lake while enjoying nature. The island is full of large rolling plains and wilderness areas where you can take a long walk while observing the local wildlife. Some of the largest herds of bison in the U.S. live here on Antelope Island. Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake.

It is a state park so there is a $15 entrance fee per vehicle. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit during the summer because antelope island is on of the best places to go swimming in the Great Salt Lake, a very unique experience.

Bear Lake

Bear Lake is a two and a half hour drive from Salt Lake City.

If you are looking for a more water based day trip from Salt Lake City then I highly recommend Bear Lake State Park. You could definitely turn this into a weekend getaway as there is enough to do. However it is well within range to be a day trip too. This large lake is cold but offers sand beaches to play on and feels great to swim in on a hot day. There are several places to rent boats and wave runners as well.

While you are in the are be sure to grab a raspberry shake, a local treat that is extremely popular in the area. They actually hold an event called Raspberry Days each August which would be a fun time to visit.

Goblin Valley

The furthest away, Goblin Valley is three and a half hours away from Salt Lake City.

Goblin Valley is a state park that will give you southern Utah vibes and is a very popular destination. This amazing place has red sand and the main attraction is a giant valley filled with unique rock formations called hoodoo’s.

Goblin Valley is very kid friendly and fun because you are free to run and climb and explore. It is also dog friendly, just keep them leashed.

Seasonal Day Trips:

There are a few day trips from Salt Lake City worth noting that are only seasonal. Skiing and snowboarding are very popular in Utah. You can choose from one of the many AMAZING ski resorts to spend the day at enjoying the snow. I recommend using

Alpine loop is a mountain road that takes you through the the most beautiful fall foliage. You can see the aspen trees in bright yellow all around and get great views of the mountain side.

Apple picking would be another great fall day trip. There are several U-pick orchards in the area to choose from.

Practical Information for Visiting SLC, UT

Find accommodation, sign up for a local tour, or buy your Utah Travel Guide.

Day Trips from Salt Lake City

There is so much to see and do in the city but if you want to get out of the city for a fun filled day of adventure then any of these 8 day trips from Salt Lake City will offer up a fun filled day! Utah is one of the best places for family travel with its variety of fun and affordable outdoor (and indoor) activities.

Fun things to do in and around SLC are mural hunting (the gateway has so many!!), hiking any of the nearby mountains, and visiting temple square and the capitol building. During spring the cherry trees blossom around the capitol building, it is so beautiful and perfect for a picnic!